Life as a family of four

Frustration and Guilt

Spending eight hours in hospital is not fun way to spend a day. Especially when you leave with no answers or solutions.

So I was awake every couple of hours overnight, in lots of pain. This morning I was having painful contractions 5-10 minutes apart. I saw Dr Rebecca, who felt a contraction and told me to go to the hospital. I spoke to Rowe who was convinced that it must mean that I was going into labour.

So off we trotted.

They did the same tests as last week with similar results – nothing happening. Mild (though stronger than last week) contractions not going anywhere. The monitor virtually didn’t show the contractions at all and the midwife was quite dubious about their existence, but the doctor actually felt one too. And they became much less regular once at the hospital. We’re thinking that maybe Rowe’s homepathics actually did more harm than anything.

This time the midwife was not nearly so nice or supportive. We did find out later that she was at the end of a double solo shift and had not had any breaks, or anything to eat, at all all day, so that explained her mood.

So the doctor gave me panadol and told me with full confidence that when it kicked in and the pain went away, we could go home. As if. A couple of hours later, with no change as expected (by us at least) they decided to do some blood tests and gave me another pain relief drug (on advice of obstetric consultant). Said it was ok and safe for the baby. And it worked – the pain subsided, though it made me feel a little ill and very sleepy.

So after about 3 more hours, another doctor came along and told me that they don’t know what is causing the pain but it’s not labour, and the baby is fine so I should just go home. She didn’t want to give any more pain relief though. This made me a bit suspicious.

We got home and googled the drug. Not considered safe for pregnancy as it crosses the placenta and no adequate studies as to its effects on the fetus have been undertaken. Though it is sometimes used for pain relief in labour (how does that work!?). So I’m not entirely happy about having taken that drug. They certainly didn’t tell us all this. And I was so out of it and over being in pain that I didn’t question it enough.

So I’m going to try and get some sleep now because I’m exhausted and feel sick (but nasty drug has relieved the pain). Bracing myself for up to 6 weeks (or more) of unexplained pain that I can’t do anything about. And trying not to feel guilty about putting nasty things into my boy’s system. Should know better than to trust doctors, and I certainly won’t again.

Dr Rebecca gave me a prescription for sleeping pills so that I could better deal with the pain. I’ll definitely be checking that one out more thoroughly before even considering taking it.

GRUMP! Prescribed sleeping tablets also not recommended for pregnancy and can cause complications. I just don’t understand why, when specifically asked, Dr Rebecca would say that it is safe for the baby when government and drug company information clearly state that it’s not. GRUMP!

4 Responses

GRRR. I am super mad and everyone you have been coming in contact with. My suggestion is benadryl – it helps me sleep and IS safe. It’s mild though so maybe it won’t work. As for the pain – geeze i have no idea but hang tight.

Hey, so sorry to hear it’s been such a rough (and painful) time for you. That drug story makes me angry! Take good care of yourself and keep googling – I don’t know why they’re prescribing you that stuff, but at least you’re on the ball.